A BRONZE BUST OF THE EMPEROR VITELLIUS

CAST FROM A MODEL BY WILLEM DANIELZ VAN TETRODE (C.1525-D. BEFORE 1588), PROBABLY IN THE WORKSHOP OF GUGLIELMO DELLA PORTA (C. 1500-1577), SECOND HALF 16TH CENTURY

Details

A BRONZE BUST OF THE EMPEROR VITELLIUS
CAST FROM A MODEL BY WILLEM DANIELZ VAN TETRODE (C.1525-D. BEFORE 1588), PROBABLY IN THE WORKSHOP OF GUGLIELMO DELLA PORTA (C. 1500-1577), SECOND HALF 16TH CENTURY
On a circular gilt-bronze socle; inscribed 'VIT' to front of bust
7¾ in. (19.8 cm.) high; 9.3/8 in. (24.6 cm.) high, overall

Literature

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:
Frankfurt, Liebighaus Museum altar Plastik, Natur und Antike in der Renaissance, 5 Dec. 1985 - 2 Mar. 1986, no. 29.
A.M. Massinelli, Bronzetti e Anticaglie dalla Guardaroba di Cosimo I, Florence, 1991, pp. 96-100, no. 99.

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Lot Essay

The present bust is cast from a model by Tetrode created as part of a series of twelve emperors commissioned from the artist to decorate a cabinet for Niccolo IV Orsini, the count of Pitigliano (Massinelli, loc. cit.).

Tetrode based the models on marble busts by his master Gugliemo della Porta. As the models are mentioned in an inventory of della Porta's studio in 1576, taken after his death, they must have remained there after Tetrode left to set up on his own.

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